Batman: The Animated Series

Cartoon Network UK and Ireland will be premiering a brand new show from Warner Bros. Animation called Justice League Action this Saturday (26/11/2016) at 7.30am. Ever since news emerged last year about the show entering production, DC Comics fans everywhere have been anticipating the show’s premiere on Cartoon Network. The series will feature the adventures of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and various members of the Justice League.

Cartoon Network USA will premiere the brand new animated action show a few weeks later on Friday 16th December at 6pm ET/PT and from Christmas Eve (Saturday 24th December), the show will air every Saturday morning. The first episode that will air on Cartoon Network USA is called “Shazam Slam,” which focuses on magical superhero Shazam and his arch-nemesis Black Adam. Ahead of the premiere, Cartoon Network USA has already uploaded a sneak peek from the new show.

Full description of “Shazam Slam”:

In “Shazam Slam,” the villainous Black Adam battles Batman on the Rock of Eternity and unleashes a horde of Djinn determined to turn the Earth back to its pre-human, volcanic state. Affected by the otherworldly powers of these primordial monsters, Batman becomes possessed and is turned into a giant flying Batmonster laying waste to the Hall of Justice, with only Superman capable of taking the fight to the Dark Knight. One by one, the Justice League – with the help of Shazam (voiced by Sean Astin) and The Wizard (voiced by Carl Reiner) – must hunt down and defeat each Djinn in order to yet again save the world from destruction.

Promo for Justice League Action as seen on Cartoon Network UK, premieres on Saturday 26th November at 7.30am:

Justice League Action Character Designs Unveiled

Last Friday and Saturday (01/06/2016 – 02/06/2016), was the 2016 Kre8tif Conference, which is a creative content industry event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the event, the character designs for many of the heroes and villains for the upcoming new Warner Bros. Animation/DC Comics animated show, Justice League Action was unveiled. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Joker, Harley Quinn, Lobo, Martian Manhunter and Shazam were among the character designs. Surprising additions to the show’s roster also includes Doctors Light and Fate, the Blue Beetle, Big Barda and Firestorm. Sketches of Green Arrow and Zatanna were also shown.

The new action series was officially announced back in January and the show will feature Batman voiced by Kevin Conroy, Booster Gold voiced by Diedrich Bader and other DC Comics superheroes alongside villains such as the Joker voiced by Mark Hamill and Lex Luthor voiced by James Woods. Sam Register (Teen Titans Go!) will serve as executive producer with Butch Lukic (Justice League, Batman Beyond), Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series) and Jim Krieg (Green Lantern: The Animated Series) also serving as producers.

It is currently not known when exactly the new show will premiere on Cartoon Network USA.

Toonami France Expands Distribution Into Africa

Turner Broadcasting System Europe has signed distribution deals with pay-TV providers in Africa to carry Cartoon Network’s action-animation sister channel, Toonami. Turner has made deals with Maroc Telecom in Morocco, Blueline in Madagascar and Parabole on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, Comores and Madagascar. Toonami France will also be carried on Gabon Telecom when their TV platform becomes available. Toonami is targeted at kids aged between 8-12, and features popular animated action programming such as Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and Justice League.

According to South African media news website, Media Update, Turner also has plans to distribute Toonami in English-language countries across Africa.

Pierre Branco, VP and general manager of Turner Southern Europe and Africa says:

“We are pleased with the addition of Toonami to the bouquet of channels aimed at our younger audiences, as it further diversifies our robust entertainment experience and program offering across age groups. The new channel promises to meet the growing demand for premium quality action-adventure and superhero content. The channel’s launch reflects the value of pay TV and its evolution.”

“With its clear positioning and strong franchising connections, it is our job to select the best shows, to editorialise them and to share them with audiences of all ages across our markets. Toonami has been described as the “ultimate home of the superhero” and is targeted at kids between the ages of eight and twelve. The 24-hour programming line-up, jam-packed with top-rated adventure series, is the go-to destination for action and animation enthusiasts of all ages.”

“As the uptake for the channel grows in the targeted markets, a slate of exciting new programs will be added to the line-up as acquisition deals are confirmed and signed.”